A Simple, Valve Curve Plotter

[Nick]

I am sure the uTracer is a fabulous piece of kit, but at 215 euros it isn't cheap and at present I don't need all that functionality and I may never need it. My budget is more like £30 quid and this thread is about designing and building a simple [static] valve curve plotter for this sort of budget.

My comments were slightly tongue-in-cheek - like many, I do mainly audio with some RF on the side, so for most folk (like me), the uTracer is ideal. It is also likely to be pretty much the same cost as a Sussex or similar self-build manual "traditional" tester.

With a very specific requirements list, a targeted rather then general-purpose bit of hardware may well be better for you... however, if in the future your ambitions expand, what then  

From what I have read I believe it's acceptable for the purpose of these tests to use a DC only supply, even for AC valves. Is this right?

DC is just fine...